Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis for subsistence Shift and Dietary Differentiation from the Late Neolithic to the early Bronze Ages in the Central Plains, China

The Central Plains, a core region for early Chinese civilization, underwent profound sociocultural transformations during the third and second millennia BC, as well as the intensification and diversification of the agricultural economy. This study explores the subsistence changes through isotopic analysis of human and animal remains from the Pan Mount Song Area (PMSA), the hinterland of the Central Plains. We present new stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from the MeiShan site in the PMSA, complemented by a comprehensive analysis of published datasets. Findings reveal distinct subsistence patterns across different periods. During the Longshan period (ca. 4400 − 3800 BP), millet remained the staple crop for both humans and domesticated animals, while some individuals consumed significant amounts of rice, indicating a notable shift in subsistence compared to the Yangshao culture period (ca. 6300 − 4500 BP), when millet farming was highly emphasized. From the Erlitou culture (ca. 3800 − 3500 BP) and Erligang culture (ca. 3500 − 3350 BP) to the late Shang periods (ca. 3210 − 3000 BP), millet-derived nutrients became predominant. When integrated with the published isotopic data focusing on PMSA, it is found that the dietary patterns of inhabitants from the late Neolithic to early Bronze Ages were predominantly millet-based during most periods. However, a relatively high proportion of C ₃ or rice-derived foods could be found in the diets of some residents at several late Longshan sites, as well as the Early Bronze Age capitals and regional centers. The disparities in human dietary patterns at these sites are presumably ascribable to the increasing complexity of the agricultural economy. Furthermore, they may also be associated with human mobility and the disparity in resource allocation during the urbanization process, which are more prone to have exerted substantial impacts at the central sites of the Early Bronze Age.